The Financial Lives of the Poets Themes & Motifs

Jess Walter

This Study Guide consists of approximately 81 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more -
everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Financial Lives of the Poets.

Crisis in Masculinity

Matt’s combats his feelings of emasculation due to his unemployment and personal life issues by overcompensating with sexist views and comments, not realizing his limited mindset is part of what holds him back from getting back on track in life Matt's expectation for himself as a man and a father is to provide for his family without the help of anyone else. He believes he should be able to make his own success. This is a very heteronormative mindset to be in which can be crippling if that expectation is not met. Matt shows this masculine expectation for himself in several ways, including his opinion on his wife working, his over-sexualization of women, and his desperation for power.

Even though Matt is unemployed and he is desperate need of cash flow, he still admits he prefers it when his wife does not work...